Cul-de-sac from Memory

I visited the Jeffers' house last night. It had been too long. I would not have felt right moving without a farewell. When Diane heard I was homeless, she emailed and offered me a room. Jerry set up a new grill as we talked. Then they made me stay and eat. Marcus showed me how to use the laser auto-fill on the refrigerator, because I'm old. I lamented the decline of civilization that people would require a refrigerator to tell them when a cup was full. Then we all agreed that delivery would be a cool next step.

I hope Carrie and I find another family to bond with down south.

Lightning Bugs

I love lightning bugs. I haven't noticed any in Charlottesville yet. Rest assured I'll check.

Sherlock Signs Off

Sherlock replied.

Summer will be longer than a four-minute exile. Especially if they're seniors. I wonder if they'll be around next year. Would have loved to have had them in class.

UPDATE: The Sherlock girls came by and asked if they could have some of the posters. I gave them the ones I had on hand (coffee stain and all). As they left they said, "Don't think this ends next year..."

Nancy said she needed watch the show to help carry on the tradition. Depending on how the show goes, someone else pretending to be Moriarty may even be thematic! I'd love to email in responses if she doesn't take up the mantle, though.

Shane's Friend

Raheem knocked on the door three times Saturday. The first time, Shane was in the bath (pre-nap). The second, it was nap time. The third, Shane was still asleep, but I let him come in anyway. 

They measured the house together.

Shane's had a ton of fun with measuring tape over the years. I'm glad he found another person to share the joy.

The boys played with Nana's spin art later.

A couple of weeks ago, our neighbor told us to be careful with any kids who wandered in from too far. She said she had her iPhone stolen. It was wiped and sold in the mobile home park for $10. I don't know how she found out and got it back.

The seed of suspicion was placed in my mind. I noticed Raheem had something in his pocket while the boys were playing. When I asked what it was, he told me a car. However, he didn't bring it out whenever the boys played with cars. The shape didn't look like a car, either. When it didn't sound like a car when he ran around I asked to see it. Raheem didn't want to at first, but then produced a small box of matches.

Relief washed over me. None of our toys are expensive, but I would have wanted to address the behavior. I don't know anything about Raheem's parents and/or their parenting styles yet. All I know is he wanders up the street to play. He's also older than Shane and I've only just figured out four-year olds (at a C+ level). I wished I hadn't been suspicious, as well.

I thanked Raheem for showing me and the boys went back to playing.

Later, I thought "Wait, matches!? A 7-year old with a box of matches?" I know the sort of trouble my friends and I would have gotten into. Igor once put gasoline in a super-soaker.

I'll tell Raheem not to bring them in my house the next time he knocks.

Scoping Out the Parks

Carrie worked Saturday, so Shane and I followed our usual pattern. This time we went to check out a park we keep driving by.

The playground passed muster.

We saw a train go by.

We checked for hobbits.

The baseball fields were the real star, though. I counted five diamonds (one was clearly for pee wees). We watched a team practice in the heat.

Well, I watched the team practice while Shane shook the batting cage net.

The coach told his team to drop into their ready position and take two steps forward whenever the pitcher threw the ball. He coached them to "attack the ball" and "always know where you'll go!" (which base to throw to). It brought back memories from my own little league days. I hope Shane will play!

For now, he was much more interested in the field equipment and the fields than the game played on them.

We explored an unused dugout...

...and got dirty.

Very dirty.

Shane likes dirt. I read somewhere it's good for you. I sent Carrie some pics to get a reaction.

If you know me, you heard my smirk after that last sentence. Shane took a bath later.

Double-Dose!

Nana and Pop visited for the first time Sunday! They were jet-lagged and newly returned from Russia.

Nana called our toilet paper heavenly (What happens in Russia, stays in Russia...)

Grandpa and Grandma followed soon after!

They were in their new car (Hey, Boo, Boo! It's a BluBaru!).

The grandparents visited in shifts before going their respective ways. Nana and Pop went to see Patrick in Harrisonburg. Grandma and Grandpa reclaimed the truck.

Meanwhile, Carrie was a nervous/stressed wreck. She was in and out trying to organize a company picnic (Go figure that it was the same day both families visited, she stepped on a nail...)

It was a big success, though. Her cake shattered expectations.

No, she didn't cook this one. She did build the bed frame it was presented on. We got the table saw from a garage sale for $20 a couple of years ago. I'd begun to wonder why I lugged it down south, but Carrie, the mad artist, put it to use Saturday night!

Twas a busy Sunday. I wonder what the next weekend will bring!

Wait....ANOTHER Cat?

Carrie always wanted a Savannah. I wanted to help a family in need. To be fair, Carrie wanted to help, too, but the cat was quite the incentive!

Cleopatra comes from a growing family. She guarded the newborn at night, but the baby developed an allergy to her. Cleo's family contacted a friend to help find her a new home and avoid future infant rashes.

That friend knew Genevieve. 

The rest is history. 

Hooray for allergy shots!

I picked up Cleo after work on Friday. I left around 3:00 PM. We arrived in Charlottesville a little after 6:30 PM. She was a good traveler and stopped her protests after a few minutes.

Carrie set her up in the dining room. River, the cat formerly known as Cleo, is about 8 years old and an F6 Savannah. She adjusted remarkably quick and immediately used her new litterbox.

She started to butter up to Carrie next. Carrie could not stop going on about how sweet she was (which led to the new name). 

What I didn't know: River(Cleo) is declawed front and back. I knew the family declawed her front paws prior new baby (and said they regretted it). Carrie said they declawed her back paws long ago. I don't know how they thought she'd "be okay as an outdoor cat if [we] wanted."

Our cats are still getting used to the idea of a new feline on the block.

Max has wandered around the room with River. River took the high-ground and Max sniffed out the low-ground. There was no hissing or batting. Bucket is a little more neurotic about the issue. She looks funny with her stub tail all fluffed up as she tries to back away and look menacing all at once (she's not). We leave the doors cracked sometimes so that both parties can sniff each other out and adjust.

Shane is very excited. He ran in circles, jumped, and hollered. He bounced from couch to couch and rebounded off of me when I caught him. Shane could not understand why Mommy refused to let him chase the new kitty! "I like her! I like her! Let me see her!"

Shane got to visit her after he calmed down. She was sweet to him, too. She does not seem to set my allergies off any more than the other cats either. Hopefully the cats adjust and she'll be the last cat we get for a while (Carrie's 2 for 2 with getting cats for our anniversary in recent years....).

Is That Where Babies Come From?

Moriarty Signs Off....or does he?

Nancy said the Sherlock Girls dropped by while I was out. They were sad the walls were cleaned, so I posted this for the finale.

Based on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJl5EPBa2Bw

This would be more appropriate for after summer, but I won't be around. I don't know if the Sherlock Girls were seniors, either. If they're not and they do start posting next year.....

I should write something.

Something.